Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have officially begun withdrawal procedures from the International Criminal Court.
Written by: Mohamed Ragab
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have officially begun procedures to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, after depositing their notifications with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. This marks the start of a full year's legal deadline before the withdrawal takes effect, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute.
The three countries are led by military councils that came to power through successive coups. They are members of the Sahel Alliance, which has recently adopted a policy of reviewing its relations with a number of regional and international organizations.
المحكمة الجنائية الدولية تعرب عن أسفها
The presidency of the Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court expressed its regret over the decision of the three countries, affirming that withdrawal could weaken international efforts to combat impunity and undermine attempts to achieve justice for victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The court affirmed that the withdrawal of any state does not nullify its legal obligations concerning cases and proceedings that began before the withdrawal took effect, nor does it affect ongoing investigations that fall within the court's jurisdiction.
Coastal states: The court has become a political tool
وبررت حكومات مالي وبوركينا فاسو والنيجر قرارها بأن المحكمة الجنائية الدولية تحولت إلى “أداة للهيمنة والاستعمار الجديد”، معتبرة أنها تطبق العدالة بصورة انتقائية ولا تراعي سيادة الدول الأفريقية.
This position comes within a broader political trend adopted by the Sahel countries' governments to reshape their relations with international institutions, after their earlier withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and to strengthen their security and political cooperation within the Sahel States Alliance.
A full year before the withdrawal takes effect
And pursuant to Article 127 of the Rome Statute, withdrawal does not take effect immediately, but rather enters into force one year after the United Nations receives the official notification.
During this period, the three States remain legally bound to cooperate with the Court in matters within its jurisdiction, including any investigations or proceedings that were ongoing prior to the date of withdrawal.
مخاوف حقوقية من اتساع دائرة الإفلات من العقاب
وأثارت الخطوة انتقادات واسعة من منظمات حقوق الإنسان، التي حذرت من أن انسحاب دول الساحل قد يحرم آلاف الضحايا من فرصة اللجوء إلى العدالة الدولية، خاصة في ظل استمرار النزاعات المسلحة وتصاعد الانتهاكات في المنطقة.
